# 2017 NBA Playoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 16, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582 "2017-04-16T20:40:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/102 "2017-05-03T02:27:57Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > I have this spidey feeling that Irving will do more damage to the Raps than Lebron will. Just watching him for certain stretches last night - even when he wasn’t making baskets. I have no statistical basis for this claim, and I hope I’m dead wrong on it, too. Manoman if Lowry and Derozan could EVER get it going, AT THE SAME TIME. All I ask is that they get, say, at least 24 points, each, in more than two games, in a series. That really isn’t asking the moon, considering what they’re capable of in the season. I wish Casey started Powell instead of JV last game. When Cleveland went into Boston and ripped them up on national TV with about 10 games left into the season, that was enough evidence for me who the Alpha Dog was in the East. Records, schmecords. The Cavs were just bored and ready to get on with the real season. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/103 "2017-05-03T02:29:14Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and Washington has been in control most of this game. I think they’re gonna win this series. And I also think they’re the tougher match up for Cleveland. I think the Wizards have good personnel. Just a matter of whether they have the coaching and collective maturity to beat Boston. Not sure they’re ready for the likes of the Cavs yet. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/104 "2017-05-03T13:29:04Z")
Wow, that one stings for Washington. But they can still win the series and I still think they would present the tougher contest for Cleveland. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/105 "2017-05-03T23:23:23Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Wow, that one stings for Washington. But they can still win the series and I still think they would present the tougher contest for Cleveland. Why? I have not seen nothing from Washington to make me believe they can win a game in Cleveland which is what they would need to do to win the series. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/106 "2017-05-04T13:13:54Z")
> [@mmkt](#): > > Why? I have not seen nothing from Washington to make me believe they can win a game in Cleveland which is what they would need to do to win the series. The way Cleveland is playing right now looks like they won’t lose a game to an Eastern Conference team. But I think Washington presents the tougher match up because they have more size than Boston. Hard to imagine little Isaiah Thomas putting up 50+ on the Cavs. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/107 "2017-05-04T14:36:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > What you said was: > > “Pop knows what he’s doing and Donovan & Russ don’t.” > > And what was said to you: > > “I love how Westbrook gets lumped in with Donovan in that last sentence. Everything is Westbrook’s fault, even crappy coaching!” > > You did exactly what this says; you lumped Westbrook in with the crappy coaching. I didn’t blame Westbrook for the coaching. I did criticize Westbrook, because his play this year was detrimental to the long-term interests of the Thunder, as I’ve already said. > [@](#): > > And frankly, that’s silly. Westbrook is doing what he’s told to do to the best of his ability; he absolutely DOES know what he’s doing. Roster composition is not his job. If that doesn’t work well enough to win a playoff series, that’s not his fault, it’s the fault of OKC’s coach and general management staff. Westbrook is accountable for his play on the court. Did you watch the OKC-Houston series? [Did you see this shit](http://www.sbnation.com/2017/4/20/15370190/russell-westbrook-fourth-quarter-shooting-thunder-vs-rockets-game-2-playoffs)? Did you see the fourth quarter of game 5, where Westbrook decided that OKC was going to live or die on him taking long pull-up jump shots that had no chance? The guy’s obviously a great talent, but he just as obviously struggles with shot selection, and there’s no way his 42% usage rate didn’t hinder the development of the other players. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/108 "2017-05-05T00:57:39Z")
This is the first time I can remember two guys from the team that’s **ahead** by 20 points starting shit in a playoff game. Act like you’ve been there before, Washington. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/109 "2017-05-05T00:59:34Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > This is the first time I can remember two guys from the team that’s **ahead** by 20 points starting shit in a playoff game. Act like you’ve been there before, Washington. It took me to see the replay to realize that Olynyk flopped causing the guy from washington to get ejected. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/110 "2017-05-05T14:39:25Z")
Olynyk is a borderline dirty player. He’d have fit in with the Lambeer/Mahorn Pistons of the '80s. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/111 "2017-05-05T18:29:14Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Olynyk is a borderline dirty player. He’d have fit in with the Lambeer/Mahorn Pistons of the '80s. 😕:dubious: What, did a Canadian break one of your toys when you were little? Or is this a ‘let’s attack the hippie/Canadian because he won’t fight back’ thing? The thing is – and this is a sad comment on the state of NBA officiating – I think if Olynyk got a slight thug reputation it would actually reduce the number of foul calls against him. There’s something about the pasty-white Canadian skin and hippie-bro hair that makes NBA referees refuse to believe he can be a legitimate NBA player. It’s like a reflex action, they just start blowing whistles whenever he steps on the court, whether or not he actually touches anyone. I guarantee, if he got a buzz cut, ugly thug life tattoo and started beating his chest more after scoring, without changing a single thing about his game, he’d get less foul calls and shoot more free throws. (I mean, seriously, contrast how the referees treat him and Gortat) ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/112 "2017-05-05T21:19:58Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > 😕:dubious: > What, did a Canadian break one of your toys when you were little? > > Or is this a ‘let’s attack the hippie/Canadian because he won’t fight back’ thing? > The thing is – and this is a sad comment on the state of NBA officiating – I think if Olynyk got a slight thug reputation it would actually reduce the number of foul calls against him. There’s something about the pasty-white Canadian skin and hippie-bro hair that makes NBA referees refuse to believe he can be a legitimate NBA player. It’s like a reflex action, they just start blowing whistles whenever he steps on the court, whether or not he actually touches anyone. I guarantee, if he got a buzz cut, ugly thug life tattoo and started beating his chest more after scoring, without changing a single thing about his game, he’d get less foul calls and shoot more free throws. > (I mean, seriously, contrast how the referees treat him and Gortat) Did you watch the play with Oubre? He ran into the guy, put his shoulder into Oubre’s face, then kept running. That’s not including the shit he pulled on Kevin Love a couple years ago, and various other incidents. He’s already a thug, he doesn’t need the haircut or tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/113 "2017-05-07T20:20:29Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Did you watch the play with Oubre? He ran into the guy, put his shoulder into Oubre’s face, then kept running. That’s not including the shit he pulled on Kevin Love a couple years ago, and various other incidents. He’s already a thug, he doesn’t need the haircut or tattoo. Yes, I watched it (by the way, is this the only game you’ve seen Olynyk play, like ever?) Olynyk set a good pick, but brought his hands up in front of him, and may have pushed a bit. Clear foul, but hardly world-class thuggery. Particularly in this series; did you watch Gortat “set” any picks this series? And show me one person on either team who’s stopped playing because an opponent is on the floor. But of course there’s the several years ago Kevin Love thing. Maybe you’re right that if there’s contact and someone gets hurt, then that’s clear proof of thuggery on the other person. Well, except knocking out a tooth; in that case it’s just basketball, right? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/114 "2017-05-07T20:59:27Z")
Well the Cavs are on pace to sweep the Raptors as they are up 64-49 in the 3rd qtr ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/115 "2017-05-07T22:43:45Z")
Those shots to the ground must really smart ([courtesy ESPN online](http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400952465)): _“Following a replay review, Cleveland’s Shumpert was called for a technical foul in the second after he kneed DeRozan in the ground area while rising for a jump shot, an incident that left DeRozan lying on the court in pain.”_ \*They’ll probably correct it after awhile. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/116 "2017-05-07T22:44:46Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Those shots to the ground must really smart ([courtesy ESPN online](http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400952465)): > > _“Following a replay review, Cleveland’s Shumpert was called for a technical foul in the second after he kneed DeRozan in the ground area while rising for a jump shot, an incident that left DeRozan lying on the court in pain.”_ > > \*They’ll probably correct it after awhile. Yeah that was a weird call ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/117 "2017-05-08T01:04:13Z")
The Wizards have a weak bench and a tendency to get lazy on defense but damn they can sure turn it on when they want to. They’ve had at least one 35-point quarter in all but one playoff game this season, and at least one 38-point quarter in each game this series. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/118 "2017-05-08T01:08:36Z")
Looking like this is the TV schedule for this week Mon-Gs sweeps Utah on TNT Tue-Game 5 of Bos/Was and Game 5 of SAS/Hou on TNT Wed-No Games Thurs-Game 6 of Bos/Was and SAS/Hou on ESPN Friday-No Games Sat-No games Sun-Game 7 of Bos/Was or SAS/Hou or Game 1 of WCF and ECF ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/119 "2017-05-08T01:15:11Z")
The Raptors lost to Cleveland in three straight. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/120 "2017-05-08T13:12:07Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > 😕:dubious: > What, did a Canadian break one of your toys when you were little? > > Or is this a ‘let’s attack the hippie/Canadian because he won’t fight back’ thing? > > The thing is – and this is a sad comment on the state of NBA officiating – I think if Olynyk got a slight thug reputation it would actually reduce the number of foul calls against him. There’s something about the pasty-white Canadian skin and hippie-bro hair that makes NBA referees refuse to believe he can be a legitimate NBA player. It’s like a reflex action, they just start blowing whistles whenever he steps on the court, whether or not he actually touches anyone. I guarantee, if he got a buzz cut, ugly thug life tattoo and started beating his chest more after scoring, without changing a single thing about his game, he’d get less foul calls and shoot more free throws. > (I mean, seriously, contrast how the referees treat him and Gortat) 1. I didn’t even know Olynyk is Canadian. 2. I said he’s \*borderline \*dirty, and he has a history that spans beyond the Oubre play. Just ask Kevin Love. But I don’t think he’s flat out dirty, I think he toes right up to the line and I have no problem with that. 3. I also said he’d fit in with Laimbeer and Mahorn, players I enjoyed watching. Something tells me Steph Curry wouldn’t be doing his shoulder shimmy celebration after attempting a drive to the rack against those guys. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/121 "2017-05-08T20:04:24Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > 😕:dubious: > What, did a Canadian break one of your toys when you were little? > > Or is this a ‘let’s attack the hippie/Canadian because he won’t fight back’ thing? > The thing is – and this is a sad comment on the state of NBA officiating – I think if Olynyk got a slight thug reputation it would actually reduce the number of foul calls against him. There’s something about the pasty-white Canadian skin and hippie-bro hair that makes NBA referees refuse to believe he can be a legitimate NBA player. It’s like a reflex action, they just start blowing whistles whenever he steps on the court, whether or not he actually touches anyone. I guarantee, if he got a buzz cut, ugly thug life tattoo and started beating his chest more after scoring, without changing a single thing about his game, he’d get less foul calls and shoot more free throws. > (I mean, seriously, contrast how the referees treat him and Gortat) [Olynyk is](https://i.imgur.com/pvZk9z7.jpg) a [dirty player](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=364Fp_xibAs&feature=youtu.be&t=6). There’s no anti-Canadian bias at work here. He gets called for fouls because he commits fouls. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582.md?page=7)